Galatians 3:15-18

Expanded Bible

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, let us think ·in human terms [or of an example from everyday life; ^Laccording to man]: Even in the case of a human ·agreement [covenant; or will and testament], after it has been ·accepted [ratified; put into affect] no one can ·set it aside [annul it] or add anything to it. ¹⁶ God made promises both to Abraham and to his ·descendant [seed]. God did not say, “and to your ·descendants [seeds].” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your ·descendant [seed; Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7].” That means only one person; that person is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: The law, which came four hundred thirty years later, cannot ·change [cancel; nullify] that ·agreement [covenant] previously made by God and so ·destroy [nullify; render invalid] God’s promise to Abraham. ¹⁸ If the law could give us ·Abraham’s blessing [^Lthe inheritance], then ·the promise would not be necessary [or it is not based on a promise]. But that is not possible, because God freely gave ·his blessings [^Lit] to Abraham through the promise he had made.